Three Muffs, One Box

[noisepunk]

Totally just realized that my title is a play on that god awful video from a few years back...

Anyways, I'm wanting to 'build' this pedal I've come up with:


So I've been posting a help thread on every DIY pedal website I know of in order to generate some advice and information in order to make it actually happen.

Basically:

•Two big muffs, a russian and a NYC, running off the same pots and DPDTfoot switch, switchable by toggle (second muff is optional- I'd be satisfied with just the double muff and a single big muff).
•Double Muff- with single/double switch swapped for a DPDT foot switch, and vis versa for the bypass switch.
•Switch for bypassing the whole thing, no matter what is engaged or disengaged.
•On/Off switch for battery conservation (back of the enclosure).
•Expression pedal output for controlling either the sustain knob or one of the muff knobs on the double muff (also optional).


So yeah, any help would be appreciated. I'd also love to know the best option as far as graphics application is concerned.

[skullservant]

So, you want the Big Muffs to engage both at the same time? And have both of them set identical with only one set of knobs?
I would think you would need stereo potentiometers if you wanted to control both muffs identically, and I'm not sure how you would wire the 3DPT for that.

Aside from both muffs running off one set of knobs and footswitch, everything else seems like it would be easy!

[noisepunk]

Yeah, I've kind of given up on the two big muffs idea- maybe someday when I'm bored and feeling ambitious, assuming they even make 100K stereo pots.

[skullservant]

They do!

http://www.mammothelectronics.com/RV16A ... -100-a.htm

[Schlatte]

I like the idea. They make stereo pots in almost every value. The only thing I would rethink is the expression control. Wouldn't it be better to control a blend instead of the sustain? Like either clean blend so you could swoosh the heavy distortion in your incoming signal, or a blend between the big muff and the double muff... so you get from slight distortion on the double muff to full on gain on the bmp. You could also "upgrade" the whole idea and make it a little more digital - put a micro controller in there and digital pots instead of stereo pots, you could then use either an exp. Pedal or cv to control whatever parameter you want by simply setting it up on the controller. Heck, you could even add an USB jack so some fine tuning or full controlling could be done via a PC ... the circuit would remain completely analog, but the controlling would be digital.

[hazefuzz]

That's a really nice project, but just let me say something,
1-you don't really need a switch to save battery life, just need 1stereo jack and 1 mono, check this link you will understand
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=74670.0
2-I'm not sure to understand the bypass toggle switch for the double mudd side, I think it's more easy and useful if you put a footswich to engage the double muff and the toggle switch (or maybe another footswitch) to change between single/double muff,

anyway let me know if you need more info, I really like this project,
enjoy

[culturejam]

1-you don't really need a switch to save battery life, just need 1stereo jack and 1 mono, check this link you will understand
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=74670.0

My issue with this is that it is a pain in the ass to unplug the input side of ALL the pedals that are on a board. It's not so bad if it's the first pedal in a chain, but you can have only one pedal that is first.

The real answer to this problem is to: 1) stop using batteries, and 2) have a master switch for the board's power supply.

But if you are determined to use batteries, I think the power switch is a great idea.

[hazefuzz]

I'm agree with stop using batteries

I know bigmuff are between 4 and 6 milliamp, if you add a double muff (probably between 4 and 6 too) you will drain your batteries life really fast

[bobman360]

This is siiiiick. Can't wait to see it!

[noisepunk]

Totally forgot I posted this here. Anyways thanks for the replies!

I really like the idea of an expression control for clean/distorted blend (fuzz swells, woo!0, maybe I'll ditch the expression sustain, or do both- lord knows I'll have room.

I agree with the 'stop using batteries' sentiment, and I'll probably wind up ditching that part of the circuit- the reason I wanted to leave it in (and make it easier to disengage it) was because this is going to theoretically be my new go-to pedal, the one I grab for impromptu jams and whatnot, and wall power isn't always an easy option. One other thing I've considered in that department is making the switch a 3 way on/off/on switch and include a second battery, so you could essentially have a backup battery- but again, probably will just use the 9volt jack.

The stereo pot thing is extremely tempting... the only thing is that a) I'd rather not unsolder anything from the Big muff PCB if I don't have to, and b) I don't know how else I'd mount said circuit in the housing... any ideas?

...
2-I'm not sure to understand the bypass toggle switch for the double mudd side, I think it's more easy and useful if you put a footswich to engage the double muff and the toggle switch (or maybe another footswitch) to change between single/double muff...

So, basically the idea is I could have the pedal full on, everything engaged, and switch to quiet without doing any tap-dancing; it'll essentially be like having a built in bypass loop, which for me sounds more useful than individual bypasses.


Anyways, I'll be ordering the box this week, and will probably also go out and grab a thing of 'for dark' t-shirt transfers as I think this will be the most effective graphics option unless anyone has a better idea that isn't silk-screening.

Stay tuned, fun things to come.